The Wicomico County Council will discontinue the use of the Lord’s Prayer at the opening of its meetings following consultation with legal counsel and a review of controlling constitutional law. The Council is currently considering its options
regarding future opening practices.
This decision was made by Council President John T. Cannon after receiving legal guidance indicating that the United States District Court for Maryland and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit have ruled against council-led sectarian prayer. Legal counsel advised that any challenge to this precedent would likely require litigation through the U.S. Supreme Court level, with no reasonable expectation of success in the Maryland courts or Fourth Circuit.
The issue arose after a council member read scripture from a Bible during council comments at a legislative meeting, which prompted outside legal action. Following that meeting, the Council received multiple letters threatening litigation, including three letters of demand from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. After weeks of legal review and discussion, the Council President determined there were no viable alternatives that would not expose the County to significant legal risk and expense.
The County Council has, through the leadership of the Council President and several members successfully maintained a long-standing tradition of opening prayer throughout their combined decades of public service. They regret that the County has been placed in this position and are deeply disappointed that continued pressure and the threat of litigation have forced such an unfortunate outcome.
This matter also follows closely on the heels of the County having recently been compelled to settle litigation involving the elimination of two at-large council positions after legal action was taken against the County by the ACLU and NAACP.
In that matter, potential legal costs were initially projected to approach several hundred thousand dollars. Based on legal advice and the recognized predispositions of federal courts, the County ultimately determined that its only viable option was to negotiate a settlement that significantly reduced—but did not eliminate—the financial impact to taxpayers.
After reviewing the applicable case law and consulting with legal counsel, the Council President concluded that continuing the practice of reciting the Lord’s Prayer posed an untenable legal and financial risk to the County. The Council’s attorney has released a formal legal opinion outlining the constitutional basis for this determination.
This decision reflects a difficult but necessary response to existing legal realities and is not one the Council President, nor members undertook lightly.
And so God’s blessings are revoked.
If you were Muslim
They would let you pray on a dirty rug to OLLIE or is it allah
I suppose it’s now illegal to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag also. Why are we letting a very, very minut portion of our population change and dictate our American traditions. C’mon ELECTED members of the county council, make a stand for the people that had trust in you to honor our values.
I suppose it’s now illegal to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag also. Why are we letting a very, very minut portion of our population change and dictate our American traditions. C’mon ELECTED members of the county council, make a stand for the people that had trust in you to honor our values. There is nothing illegal about saying the Lord’s Prayer at the beginning of a meeting, those that don’t want to participate don’t have to. Legal council is not needed to figure this out. Go to court and state the facts, it really isn’t rocket science. Seems we have lost all common sense.
Was all good till Wacky Winn pulled his stunt at the council meeting. Most of all his comments do not make any sense and or off the cuff with no think thru. He makes me sick just looking and listening to him.